FIFAs disciplinary committee is looking into Colombia defender Juan Zunigas challenge that left Neymar and the Brazilian nation in agony. Zuniga bundled into the back of Neymar two minutes from the end of Fridays World Cup quarter-final, putting the Brazil superstar out of the rest of the tournament with a fractured vertebra. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is analysing all the elements provided, the videos and the match reports and will decide whether or not to take action, FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said. Zuniga defended the challenge after the match, saying he had not deliberately hurt Neymar. I never wanted to hurt the player. When Im on the pitch, I do everything to defend my country and the shirt I wear, but always without intent to injure anybody, said Zuniga, who has received a flood of death threats and racist abuse on social media. It was a match both teams wanted to win. It got a bit heated. There were strong tackles but the Brazilians were doing the same. Its normal. I didnt make that challenge trying to break his spine. I was defending my country. Its a very sad thing. I hope, with the help of God that its not too serious because everyone knows hes a great talent for Brazil. However Brazils former World Cup- winning striker Ronaldo and Italys Fabio Cannavaro - who led his country to the ultimate global prize in 2006 - both felt there was culpability on the part of the Colombian. The injury was very violent, said Ronaldo. I believe there was an intention to hurt by the player. I believe it was very aggressive and very violent. Cannavaro said: I didnt like that very high knee. That leads me to believe it was a foul with a prior intention to cause harm. It didnt give me a very good impression. Its a very evident foul. Brazil won the match 2-1 and will now face Germany in the semi-finals, when Chelsea duo Ramires and Willian will both be pressing their claims to deputise for the hosts fallen hero.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 18:10:08 +0000
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